Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16K—VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING
  • F16K31/00—Actuating devices; Operating means; Releasing devices
  • F16K31/12—Actuating devices; Operating means; Releasing devices actuated by fluid
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
  • F01L—CYCLICALLY OPERATING VALVES FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES
  • F01L9/00—Valve-gear or valve arrangements actuated non-mechanically
  • F01L9/10—Valve-gear or valve arrangements actuated non-mechanically by fluid means, e.g. hydraulic
  • F01L9/16—Pneumatic means
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16K—VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING
  • F16K15/00—Check valves
  • F16K15/02—Check valves with guided rigid valve members
  • F16K15/06—Check valves with guided rigid valve members with guided stems
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16K—VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING
  • F16K27/00—Construction of housing; Use of materials therefor
  • F16K27/04—Construction of housing; Use of materials therefor of sliding valves
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T29/00—Metal working
  • Y10T29/53—Means to assemble or disassemble
  • Y10T29/53552—Valve applying or removing

Definitions

• the present invention relates to valves and, more particularly, to a fluid (hydraulic or pneumatic) actuated valve.
• Directly operated, or actuated, fluidic valves are well known in the art for controlling the flow of gas, air or fluid there through.
• Such valves typically include a valve body having a flow passage formed through the valve body.
• a valve member is supported within the flow passage and moveable from one position to another to regulate fluid flow in direct response to an operative force placed on the valve member by an actuator.
• a plurality of ports are provided to connect the valve assembly to a pressurized fluid supply as well as to the various active devices that the valve may control.
• the actuator is typically an electromagnetically or piezo-electric solenoid that is energized to move the valve member to a predetermined position within the flow passage.
• a return spring is often employed to bias the valve member back to a known non-energized position.
• Valves of this type are employed in a wide variety of manufacturing environments where high flow rates and fast response times are desired.
• Hayes valve is a spring biased normally open solenoid actuated valve that includes a valve body having a valve seat defining a valve port located between an fluid inlet port and a fluid outlet port.
• a sealing member on a rod under the control of a spool is longitudinally moveable into our out of the valve port to control fluid flow.
• valves are used in a wide variety of contexts ranging from engines to industrial systems to pneumatic tools.
• the operating parameters for such systems are growing increasingly stringent as designers attempt to make them faster, less expensive and lightweight. This places increasing demands on the valves used for such systems.
• fluid control valves by the present inventors include a
• U.S. Patent 6,349,691 discloses an automatically actuated, pressure responsive air intake valve for an internal combustion engine generally having a fixed valve seat housing and a sliding valve member.
• the valve seat housing is threaded into the head of a working chamber on an internal combustion engine.
• the sliding valve member reciprocates through the housing in response to differential pressures on either side of the valve.
• the sliding member has a hollow chamber that opens in a sidewall of the valve seat housing, thereby directing a stream of air outward from the valve structure.
• U.S. Patent 7,140,332 discloses a pneumatically actuated valve assembly for use as intake and/or exhaust valves on internal combustion engines.
• the assembly includes a valve, valve housing, and compressed gas distribution and timing mechanisms.
• the valve is comprised of a short light weight hollow cylindrical body with a capped lower end and an opened upper end.
• the valve is further defined by a plurality of ports adjacent to the lower end and a collar encircling the body adjacent the upper end.
• the valve housing is hollow and tubular having a larger diameter upper section and a smaller diameter lower section in which the valve slides up to close and down to open.
• the housing further includes hollow channels which direct compressed gas, managed by the distribution and timing mechanism, alternately towards the areas above and below the valve collar at regular intervals to open and close the valve, respectively.
• the object of the present invention is a direct fluid-actuated valve assembly that can provide extremely fast positive shutoff, and turn on, within a few milliseconds.
• the valve assembly includes a valve housing having an internal fluid port defined by a larger chamber and an adjacent smaller chamber demarcated by a shoulder, a valve body seated in the valve housing and defined by a plurality of ports evenly spaced circumferentially around its circumference a plurality of supporting wall sections (mullions) between the ports, and a plurality of internal vanes each running along a corresponding mullion for reinforcement thereof, said vanes being inclined and/or curved to promote a circular internal fluid flow within the valve body.
• mullions supporting wall sections
• a valve cap with annular collar is affixed to the valve body, and the valve body and cap/collar are slidably carried in the valve housing between an open position and a closed position.
• a toolset is also disclosed for easily installing and removing the valve assembly.
• the toolset includes a valve wrench designed to mate with the collar and having an elongate handle for manual turning, and an open circular head defined by a plurality of interlocking features.
• the toolset also includes a chuck formed as an extended stem leading to a disk defined by a series of notches, the stem having a keyed cross-section, and the disk having notches conforming to the vanes of said valve body to grip the vanes and stabilize the valve body.
• the chuck protrudes up through the circular wrench head and can be held by a standard wrench, or other means, to stabilize the valve body while the valve wrench is turned to detach the collar.
• FIG. 1 depicts the structural features of an exemplary pneumatically actuated valve according to the present invention.
• FIG. 2 is an enlarged illustration of the valve body 2.
• FIG. 3 is a top view of the valve body 2.
• FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional perspective view of an assembled single acting valve body with valve body cap with collar affixed, seated in the valve housing in a closed position.
• FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional perspective view of an assembled single acting valve body with valve body cap with collar affixed, seated in the valve housing in an open position.
• FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional drawing of an assembled double acting valve according to the present invention in an open position.
• FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional drawing of the double acting valve according to the present invention in a closed position.
• FIG. 8 is an exploded view of a single acting valve according to the present invention inclusive of the valve wrench and chuck tools for installation and/or removal.
• FIG. 9 is an enlarged side (A) and bottom (B) view of the chuck of FIG. 8.
• the present invention is a fast acting fluid actuated valve assembly.
• the invention is depicted in the context of a pneumatic valve directly actuated by means of forced or compressed air, although one skilled in the art will recognize that other pressurized gases or fluids may be suitable for actuating the valve of the present invention.
• FIG. 1 the structural features of an exemplary pneumatically actuated valve according to the present invention are depicted which generally include a valve housing 1 , a valve body 2 seated in the valve housing 1 and having a cap 7 with annular collar 8 affixed to the valve body 2.
• the various components are described in more detail as follows.
• the valve body 2 is a hollow, cylindrical body with an upper end and a lower end.
• the lower end is capped by an endplate 4 forming a valve body seat that defines a floor to the valve body 2.
• the endplate 4 is beveled about the upper surface of its peripheral edge with a bevel of approximately 45 degrees to seat against a cooperative bevel in the valve housing 1.
• the endplate rises from the beveled peripheral edge 4 inwardly toward the center at an angle of between 0° and 25 ° degrees, inclusive, and preferably approximately a 10 degrees.
• the valve body 2 is further defined by a plurality of ports 3a around its circumference, adjacent the endplate 4.
• three uniformly oblong ports 3 a are provided at a uniform angular spacing, and all opening into the hollow interior of the valve body 2.
• the ports 3 a are segregated by partitions or "mullions" 3 formed in the walls of the valve body 2.
• Each mullion 3 is relatively thin compared to the breadth of the ports 3a.
• the horizontal extent of each mullion 3 is approximately 15% that of each neighboring port 3a, such that the portion of the circumference occupied by the mullions 3 is 15% the total circumference of the valve body 2. This minimizes the obstruction by the mullions 3 and maximizes air/fluid flow through the ports 3a.
• each vane 9 originates proximate the upper end of the valve body 2 and terminates at endplate 4, running more or less lengthwise down a corresponding mullion 3. From top to bottom each vane 9 begins as a shallow inward protuberance and gradually ramps outward toward the bottom where it occupies, in certain embodiments, approximately 1 ⁇ 2 or more of the radius of the valve body 2.
• each vane 9 adapts a slight angle to induce a circular air/fluid flow within the valve body 2.
• each vane 9 runs top to bottom at a slight angular offset from vertical and mushrooms to a broader base at its juncture with endplate 4.
• the innermost edge of the vane 9 is rounded, all of the foregoing features contributing to proper airflow.
• the vanes 9 are preferably integrally molded to the valve body 2 and each vane 9 adds reinforcement to the mullion 3, preventing collapse.
• the valve body 2 is preferably threaded 11 externally around the upper end of the valve body 2 to affix the cap 7.
• FIG. 3 is a top view of the valve body 2 illustrating the contour of each vane 9 provided in certain embodiments to induce a circular air/fluid flow within the valve body 2.
• the vanes 9 in such embodiments are each oriented radially inward along an axis x which is at an angle a of 10-15 degrees from the radial axis R of the valve body 2 (shown by angle lines).
• FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional perspective of the assembled valve body 2 seated in the valve housing 1 , with valve body cap 7 (and integral collar 8) affixed to the valve body 2.
• the vanes 9 are each downwardly oriented along an axis y which forms an angle ⁇ of 10-15 degree offset from vertical axis A through the valve body 2.
• the valve housing 1 may be any supporting structure, e.g., an engine block or cylinder head, made, machined, molded or otherwise formed with a suitable port for accepting the assembled valve body 2.
• the port is machined as a two-tiered cylindrical port with a larger upper diameter abutting a constricted lower diameter at a shoulder 13, the upper diameter defining a barrel for flush sliding of the valve body cap 7 and collar 8 (and valve body 2), and the barrel space between the shoulder 13 and the collar 8 defining a first "control volume" 20A.
• the shoulder 13 limits downward motion of the cap 7/collar 8 and body 2, and seats the valve body cap 7 and collar 8 when the valve is in the open (down) position.
• FIG. 5 illustrates the assembled valve body 2 and valve body cap 7 with collar 8 as in FIG. 4 seated in the valve housing 1 , here in an open position.
• the valve body cap 7 with collar 8 (and valve body 2) slide downward until the collar 8 abuts the shoulder 13 in the port of valve housing 1 , resulting in a minimal control volume 20A. This extends the endplate 4 beneath the valve body 1 opening the ports 3a for fluid flow (air, gas or liquid).
• first control volume 20A in FIG. 5 is near zero because the valve is shown in an open position, but the first control volume 20A increases as the valve closes.
• the lower rim 5 of the port in valve housing 1 is formed with a bevel to match that of the endplate 4 for flush seating of the valve body 2 against the valve housing 1 when the valve is in a closed position, as seen in FIG. 4.
• the overall length of the valve is relatively short and wide, compared to conventional direct valves which generally feature long thin bodies.
• the wide cylindrical valve body 2 of the present valve makes the valve less likely to suffer the effects of wear and tear as compared to conventional valves.
• forced fluid such as compressed air or other gas is used to both open and close the valve.
• the valve is closed by directing forced air below the collar 8, thereby exerting pressure to the underside of the collar 8 causing the valve to move upward and closed.
• the embodiment shown in FIGs. 1-5 may additionally employ a housing cap 19 fixedly attached to the valve housing 1 to prevent withdrawal, as described below.
• FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional drawing of an assembled two-way valve according to the present invention, in an open position while FIG. 7 shows the valve in a closed position.
• the housing cap 19 here is a solid wall attached to and covering the valve housing 1 but defined by an open aperture so as not to cover the open port.
• the inner cylindrical wall of the valve body cap 7 is extended in height to pass through the housing cap 19.
• the housing cap 19 serves as a guide bushing for the valve body cap 7.
• the height of the extended valve body cap 7 should be sufficient so that it never drops below the lower surface of the housing cap 19. This way, since the housing cap 19 is affixed to the valve housing 1, the valve body 2 cannot be withdrawn.
• the valve housing 1 port is connected to a forced fluid (air, gas or liquid) source.
• a second control volume 20B of the valve body 2 is defined within the barrel by the upper surface of the collar 8 and the lower surface of the housing cap 19.
• the second control volume 20B in FIG. 6 is near maximum because the valve is shown in an open position, but the second control volume 20B decreases (FIG. 7) as the valve closes.
• the maximum vertical extent of the control volumes 20A, 20B of the valve body 2 are approximately equal to one-half the length of the valve body 2.
• a return spring may be loaded into the valve body 2, possibly but not necessarily one side or the other of the collar 8, to bias the valve member back to either open or closed positions, further improving response time.
• a forced air distribution system with electronic solenoids or piezo-electric valves will be used to control the disclosed valve.
• compressed air is input through a one-way valve to prevent losses due to back pressure.
• a programmable electronic control module manages the distribution and timing of the flow of forced air as needed.
• the air may be forwarded through a manifold and thereby gated through to a plurality of the valves according to the present invention.
• the gates may be solenoids or piezo-electric valves under control of the programmable electronic control module.
• FIG. 8 illustrates this premise with a unique valve wrench 18 designed to mate with the collar 8 of valve body cap 7, and a chuck 6.
• the upward-facing surface of the collar 8 is defined by a series of interlocking features such as apertures (as shown), notches or protuberances.
• the valve wrench 18 is defined by an elongate handle for manual turning, and an open circular head likewise adorned with a cooperating series of interlocking features such as posts (as shown) to fit into the apertures of the collar 8 of valve body cap 7, or notches or other protuberances, etc.
• FIG. 9 is an enlarged side (A) and bottom (B) view of the chuck 6.
• the chuck 6 includes an extended stem leading to a disk defined by a series of notches. The stem is defined by a keyed cross-section as shown.
• the chuck 6 is intended to maintain the valve body 2 stationary while the valve body cap 7 and collar 8 are removed, and the chuck 6 is inserted downwardly into the valve body 2.
• the notches in chuck 6 conform to the interior vanes 9 and grip the vanes 9 such that maintaining the chuck stationery holds the valve body 2 stationary.
• the valve wrench 18 is inserted over the chuck 6 with the chuck 6 protruding upward through the open valve wrench 18.
• the cooperating series of interlocking features fit into the apertures of the collar 8 and provide turning leverage. Since the chuck 6 protrudes upward through the open valve wrench 18, a standard wrench may be used to maintain the chuck 6 stationery while the valve wrench 18 is turned to unscrew the valve body cap 7 and collar 8 from the valve body 2. This design greatly facilitate
• Directly operated, or actuated, fluidic valves are employed in a wide variety of manufacturing environments where high flow rates and fast response times are desired. Such valves are used in a wide variety of contexts ranging from engines to industrial systems to pneumatic tools. The operating parameters for such systems are growing increasingly stringent as designers attempt to make them faster, less expensive and lightweight. This places increasing demands on the valves used for such systems. Manufacturers now require control valves that can provide extremely fast positive shutoff, and turn on, within a few milliseconds. This speed is very difficult to achieve in a fluid valve. Consequently, there would is significant industrial applicability for a direct fluid-actuated valve assembly that can provide extremely fast positive shutoff, and turn on, within a few milliseconds.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Lift Valve (AREA)
• Valve Housings (AREA)
• Fluid-Driven Valves (AREA)

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Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

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ID=43900979

Family Applications (1)

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Citations (8)

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• 2010
  • 2010-10-22 US US13/503,034 patent/US20120205564A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2010-10-22 KR KR1020127012949A patent/KR20120085295A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2010-10-22 EP EP10825725A patent/EP2491286A2/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2010-10-22 CN CN201080056422.0A patent/CN102648367B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2010-10-22 AU AU2010310544A patent/AU2010310544A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2010-10-22 WO PCT/US2010/053684 patent/WO2011050241A2/en active Application Filing
  • 2010-10-22 JP JP2012535401A patent/JP2013508648A/ja active Pending
  • 2010-10-22 CA CA2778444A patent/CA2778444A1/en not_active Abandoned

Patent Citations (8)

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